Suction device for surgical purposes



p 1964 G. KRAYL 3,146,987

SUCTION DEVICE FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES Filed June 27. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A'ITORNEY Sept. 1, 1964 G. KRAYL sucnou DEVICE FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 27, 1961 INVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent O SUCTION DEVICE FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES Gerhard Krayl, Tuttlingen, Wurttemherg, Germany,

assignor to Aktiengesellschaft fur Feinmechanik, vorrnals .ietter & Scheerer, Tuttlingen Wurttemberg, Germany, a German firm Filed June 27, 1961, Ser. No. 119,925 Claims priority, application Germany, July 20, 1960 Claims. (Cl. 251100) The present invention relates to a grip-type suction device for surgical purposes, which is provided with a conduit adapted to be connected to a suction line, a valve for opening and closing the suction conduit, a control handle or the like for opening the valve and acted upon by a spring to maintain the valve and control handle normally in the closed position, and with means associated with the control handle for locking the valve in the open position. Such suction devices are being used especially in connection with central suction apparatus for operating rooms of hospitals for drawing ofi body fluids which interfere in surgical operations or in other medical treatments.

A suction device of this type which has been in use prior to this invention is provided with means for operating the valve in the form of a control handle which is pivotable about an axis extending vertically to the longitudinal axis of the valve and is adapted when depressed for holding the valve in the open position to be locked by means of a ring which is rotatably mounted on the valve housing. In order to lock this control handle to maintain the valve in the open position, it is therefore necessary to depress the handle and to turn the locking ring, two operations which normally can be carried out only with both hands. This is a distinct disadvantage, especially in an instrument required in surgical operations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a grip-type suction device of the above-mentioned type, which overcomes this disadvantage of the known device by being designed such that, when the valve is in its open position, at least a part of the control handle is movable to a locked position in a direction transverse to the direction in which the control handle is moved for operating the valve. The locking means may consist of suitable projections and associated recesses which may be provided on the control handle, the valve housing, or on the valve member.

A further object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantage of the known suction device that the valve mechanism thereof can be taken apart only with considerable difiiculty, whereas it is very important for hygenic and aseptic reasons that a device of this kind can be very easily disassembled to permit it to be quickly and frequently cleaned.

For attaining the objects of the invention the invention provides a valve member which is slidable in the longitudinal direction within the valve housing and connected to the control handle which is likewise slidable in the longitudinal direction and adapted, when the valve is in its open position, to be pivoted to the locked position about the longitudinal axis of the valve. A device of such a design operates very reliably and it is easily disassembled, since it merely requires a closure cap to be unscrewed to permit the valve member together with the control handle to 3,146,987v Patented Sept. 1., 1964 be withdrawn. This novel design has the further advantage that the valve mechanism consists of only a few parts of a relatively large size so that the danger that they might be lost when the device is being cleaned and sterilized is considerably reduced or entirely avoided.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description, the present invention will be clearly understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a suction device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a suction device according to a modification of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along the lines 66 of FIG. 4.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the suction device for surgical purposes according to this embodiment of the invention consists of a tubular grip 1 which forms a valve housing and is provided at one end with a hose connection 2 to which a suction line, not shown, may be attached, and near its other end with a lateral connection piece 3 extending in a radial direction to which a suction cannular of a conventional type may be connected. The lateral connection piece 3 communicates with the channel 5 in the grip 1 through a lateral opening 4.

For closing this opening 4, the channel 5 contains a cylindrical valve member 6 which is slidable therein in longitudinal direction and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis 9 of the grip 1. The valve member 6 is connected by a pin 8 extending through an elongated slot 10 in the grip 1 to a control handle 7, which is thus slidable along the outer surface 1 of the grip 1 in axial direction thereof. The slot 10 extends to the end 11 of the grip 1 and is closed near this end by the lower edge of a screw cap 12 which is screwed upon the end 11.

The screw cap 12 also supports one end of a coil spring 13, the other end of which acts upon the valve member 6 and tends to maintain the latter in its closing position, in which the pin 8 engages with the lower end 10 of the slot 10. Directly adjacent to or shortly underneath the lower edge of the screw cap 12, the axially extending slot 10 merges into a lateral slot 14, which ends in a locking recess 14, into which the pin 8 may be inserted, if the valve member 6 is to be locked in its open position.

For connecting the suction cannula on the connection piece 3 with the suction line which is attached to the hose connection 2, it is merely necessary to push, for example, with the thumb, the control handle 7 upwardly in axial direction, until the pin 8 engages with the lower edge of the screw cap 12. If valve member 6 is to be locked in its open position, the control handle 7 only needs to be shifted with the same finger toward the side so as to slide the pin 8 into the lateral slot 14, from which it will be pushed by the pressure of the spring 13 into the locking recess 14'. The valve member 6 will thus be locked in the open posi tion, so that the finger may be removed from the control handle 7. For closing the valve member 6, it is merely a) necessary to push the control handle knob 7 slightly upwardly and toward the side to lift the pin 8 out of the locking recess 14 and to slide it into the axial slot 10, whereupon the finger may be removed from the control handle 7, since the spring 13 will then return the valve member 6 and the handle 7 to the closing position.

If the grip 1 and the valve member 6 should be cleaned, it is only necessary to unscrew the cap 12, whereupon the spring 13 which may even be connected solidly to the cap 12 may be removed and the valve member 6 together with the control handle 7 may be slipped out of the grip 1. There will thus only be three separate parts which may be cleaned very easily, and there are no small parts in the entire device such as screws or the like which might be lost.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate a modification of the suction device according to the invention, in which all parts which are structurally or functionally similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are identified by numerals which are increased by one hundred over those applied in FIGS. 1 to 3. This embodiment of the invention dilfers from that described above primarily by the fact that channel 105 in grip 101 forms a valve seat 105' underneath the lateral opening 104 and that the lower part of the valve member 106 forms a valve cone 106' which is pressed by the spring 113 upon the valve seat 105', so that the channel 105 and the lateral opening 104 are shut off from each other, on the one hand, by the lateral engagement of the cylindrical surface of the valve member 106 with the inner wall of the channel 105 and, on the other hand, by the engagement of the valve cone 106' with the valve seat 105'.

A further difference between this and the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 resides in the fact that the connecting pin 103 does not-like the pin 8extend transverse to the axis of the grip 101, but coaxially thereto and that it passes through a bore 110 in the screw cap 112 and its end is secured above the screw cap 112 to an angular extension 107 of the control handle 107.

For locking the valve member 106 in its open position, the grip 101 is provided with a locking pin 115 which extends radially therefrom directly adjacent to a lateral toward one side by the same finger with which it has been pushed upwardly to lift the valve member 106 so as to lock the control handle 107 to the pin 115. In order to limit the upward movement of the control handle 107, the lower edge 116 of the recess 114 is extended, so as to serve as a stop which will then engage with the locking pin 115.

The manner of operation of the suction device according to FIGS. 4 to 6 is identical with that according to FIGS. 1 to 3. One notable difference between these two embodiments of the invention is that, while the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 as previously described when taken apart for cleaning forms three separate parts, the embodiment according to FIGS. 4 to 6 only forms two separate parts, namely, the grip 101 and the control handle 107 with the valve member 106, the screw cap 112, and the spring 113 which are connected to each other to form one unit. A loss of any part is thus practically impossible. It is, however, also possible to make the suction device according to FIGS. 1 to 3 of only two separate parts by connecting the lowest turn of spring 13 to a grooved portion 6' of the valve member 6, so that the screw cap 12, the spring 13, the valve member 6, and the control handle 7 will then also form one interconnected unit. It is then only necessary to insure that the spring 13 will be able to turn freely either relative to the screw cap 12 or to the valve member 6.

The ditferent parts of the suction device according to either of the embodiments are preferably made of brass,

nickel, German silver, or stainless steel, except the coil spring 13 or 113, which preferably consists of stainless spring steel.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a housing having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, and an inlet and an outlet adapted to communicate with each other through said chamber, a valve member movable Within and along the longitudinal axis of said valve chamber between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housing and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical surface coinciding with said longitudinal axis of said valve chamber, means for guiding said control member for movement in said direction of movement of said valve member for moving the latter to said open position, and means for guiding at least a part of said control member for a limited movement in a direction transverse to the axial direction of said valve chamber, when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

2. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a housing having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, and an inlet and an outlet adapted to communicate with each other through said chamber, a valve member movable within and along the longitudinal axis of said chamber between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housmg and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical surface coinciding with said longitudinal axis of said valve member, means for guiding said control member for movement in said direction of movement of said valve member for moving the latter to said open position, means for guiding at least a part of said control member for a limited movement in a direction transverse to the axial direction of said valve chamber, when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position, and said guiding and locking means comprising at least one projection and at least one recess operatively associated with each other on said control member and said housing, respectively.

3. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a tubular valve housing forming a grip and having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a value chamber, and an inlet and an outlet adapted to communicate with each other through said valve housing, a valve member slidable within and along the longitudinal axis of said valve housing between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housing and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical surface coinciding with said longitudinal axis of said valve housing, means for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction for moving said valve member to said open position, and means for guiding said control n1ember for a limited rotary movement about said longitudinal axis of said valve member, when said valve member 1s in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

4. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a tubular valve housing forming a grip and having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, an inlet and an outlet adapted to communicate with each other through said valve housing, a valve member slidable within and along the longitudinal axis of said valve housing between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, said valve housing having an elongated slot extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said valve member, and a locking recess in at least one side Wall of said slot, 21 control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said valve housing and relative thereto, and a member connecting said control member to said valve member and extending through and slidable along said slot and from said slot into said locking recess when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

5. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a tubular valve housing forming a grip and having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, and an inlet and an outlet adapted to communicate with each other through said housing, a valve member slidable within and along the longitudinal axis of said housing between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said valve housing and relative thereto, a member connecting said control and valve members to each other and extending coaxially to said valve member, means for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction for moving said valve member to said open position, and means for guiding said control member for a limited rotary movement about the longitudinal axis of said valve member when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

6. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a tubular housing forming a grip and having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a cylindrical valve chamber, a lateral inlet into said valve chamber and an outlet adapted to communicate with said inlet through said chamber, a cylindrical valve member slidable Within and along the longitudinal axis of said chamber between a closing position closing said lateral inlet and an open position freeing said inlet, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said valve housing and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, means for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction for moving said valve member to said open position, and means for guiding said control member for a limited rotary movement about the longitudinal axis of said valve member when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

7. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a tubular housing forming a grip and having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, a lateral inlet into said valve chamber and an outlet adapted to communicate with said inlet through said chamber, and a valve seat within said valve chamber, a valve member slidable in the longitudinal direction within said chamber between a closing position resting upon and closing said valve seat and interrupting the connection between said inlet and outlet and an open position in'freeing said valve seat and said connection, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally pressing said valve member upon said valve seat to close said valve member, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housing and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, means for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction for moving said valve member to said open position, and means for guiding said control member for a limited rotary movement about the longitudinal axis of said valve member when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

8. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a tubular housing forming a grip and having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a cylindrical valve chamber, a lateral inlet into said chamber, and an outlet adapted to communciate with said inlet through said chamber, a valve seat within said chamber, a cylindrical valve member slidable in the longitudinal direction within said chamber between a closing position resting upon and closing said valve seat and the cylindrical wall of said valve member also closing said lateral inlet, and an open position freeing said valve seat and said inlet, a spring acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housing and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, means for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction for moving said valve member to said open position, and means for guiding said control member for a limited rotary movement about the longitudinal axis of said valve member when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position.

9. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a housing having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, an inlet to and an outlet from said valve chamber adapted to communicate with each other through said chamber, a valve member movable within and along the longitudinal axis of said valve chamber between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a screw cap removably screwed upon one end of said housing, a spring within said housing and connected to said screw cap and to said valve member and acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housing and relative thereto and connected to said valve member, means on said housing for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction of movement of said valve member for moving the latter to said open position, and associated means on said housing and on said control member for guiding at least a part of said control member for a limited movement in a direction transverse to said axial direction when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position, all of said elements of said suction device being connected to each other so as to permit them to be disassembled into no more than three units.

10. A suction device for surgical purposes comprising a housing having an outer cylindrical surface and defining a valve chamber, an inlet to and an outlet from said valve member adapted to communicate with each other through said chamber, a valve member movable within and along the longitudinal axis of said valve chamber between a closing position interrupting the connection between said inlet and said outlet and an open position freeing said connection, a screw cap removably screwed upon one end of said housing, a spring within said housing and connected normally irremovably to said cap and to said valve member and acting upon said valve member for normally maintaining the latter in said closing position, a control member manually movable along said outer cylindrical surface of said housing and relative thereto and rigidly secured to said Valve member, means on said housing for guiding said control member for movement in said axial direction of movement of said valve member for moving the latter to said open position, and associated'means on said housing and on said control member for guiding at least a part of said control member for a limited movement in a direction transverse to said axial direction when said valve member is in said open position for locking said valve member in said open position, all of said elements of said suction device being connected to each other so as to permit them to be disassembled into no more than two units.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 350,895 Rualt Oct. 12, 1886 380,659 Nunn Apr. 3, 1888 1,672,114 Crow June 5, 1928 1,863,930 McKesson June 21, 1932 2,531,730 Henderson Nov. 28, 1950 

1. A SUCTION DEVICE FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING AN OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND DEFINING A VALVE CHAMBER, AND AN INLET AND AN OUTLET ADAPTED TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER THROUGH SAID CHAMBER, A VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE WITHIN AND ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID VALVE CHAMBER BETWEEN A CLOSING POSITION INTERRUPTING THE CONNECCTION BETWEEN SAID INLET AND SAID OUTLET AND AN OPEN POSITION FREEING SAID CONNECTION, A SPRING ACTING UPON SAID VALVE MEMBER FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING THE LATTER IN SAID CLOSING POSITION, A CONTROL MEMBER MANUALLY MOVABLE ALONG SAID OUTER CYLINDRICAL SURFACE OF SAID HOUSING AND RELATIVE THERETO AND CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEMBER, THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE COINCIDING WITH SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID VALVE CHAMBER, MEANS FOR GUIDING SAID CONTROL MEMBER FOR MOVEMENT IN SAID DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE MEMBER FOR MOVING THE LATTER TO SAID OPEN POSITION, AND MEANS FOR GUIDING AT LEAST A PART OF SAID CONTROL MEMBER FOR A LIMITED MOVEMENT IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIAL DIRECTION OF SAID VALVE CHAMBER, WHEN SAID VALVE MEMBER IS IN SAID OPEN POSITION FOR LOCKING SAID VALVE MEMBER IN SAID OPEN POSITION. 